The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce (LRCC) has announced the recipients of four major awards, which will be presented at the Chamber’s upcoming Annual Dinner, on Tuesday, Feb. 26. The 2019 award recipients include:

Amy Stephenson, Community Service Award

American Fifth Distillery, Outstanding Small Business Award

Lansing Ice & Fuel, Legacy Award

Martha Mertz, Pioneer Award

Community Service Award: Amy Stephenson, Co-Director of Helping Women Period and Marketing Director of Willingham & Coté, P.C.

Amy Stephenson is the founder of Helping Women Period, a local nonprofit focused on assisting homeless women with health care related products and services. Helping Women Period partners with more than 125 schools, agencies, food banks, shelters and other charity partners throughout our region including numerous local businesses that have created convenient “drop box” locations where products can be donated and collected.

Outstanding Small Business Award: American Fifth Spirits

Opening in April 2015 as the first distillery in Lansing’s history, American Fifth Spirits is receiving international acclaim for its spirits. American Fifth prides itself on a strong commitment to locally grown ingredients and has partnered with and supported many events throughout our region including the Capital City Film Festival, Taste of Downtown, Blues Fest, Jazz Fest, Beerfest at the Ballpark, Lansing Art Gallery and Lansing Symphony Orchestra.

Legacy Award: Lansing Ice & Fuel

Founded in 1906, Lansing Ice & Fuel has been a Chamber member for 65 years. Company founder Gottlieb Reutter, served as the Lansing Regional Chamber board president in 1932 and was recognized as the Chamber’s Community Service award recipient in 1949. Today, Lansing Ice & Fuel remains family owned and is operated by 4th and 5th generations of the Reutter family.

Pioneer Award: Martha Mertz

In 1982, as a Chamber board member, Martha created the ATHENA Award to recognize strong leadership in supporting women business and community leaders in our region. Today, ATHENA International has recognized more than 7,000 individuals in more than 500 communities globally. In the Chamber’s 118-year history there have been only recognized six pioneer award recipients, with the most recent being the Blue Ribbon Committee to keep GM in 2016.

The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce works relentlessly to help businesses connect, grow and thrive. For more than 115 years, the Chamber has served as the voice of the Greater Lansing business community. More information about the Chamber, its programs and services can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.